theodob steinway



(N0 ModeL) G. P. T. STEINWAY.

PIANO FRAME. No. 314,740. Patented Mar. 31, 1885.

?7/////////////////////////////I/Al lV/////////////// ATTORNBYSv UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

C. F. THEODOR STEINWAY, OF NElV YORK, N. Y.

PIANO-FRAME.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 314,740, dated March 31, 1885.

Application filed March 26, 1884.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, O. F. THEODOR STEIN- WAY, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in 'lreble-Supports for Piano- Frames, of which the following is a specification.

The tension of the strings exerts a lifting action on the treble portion of the metallic string-frame of the piano, so that the same assumes the shape of a flattened longitudinal arch. It is therefore of the utmost importance to give to the treble portion of the stringframe an exterior support, whereby the frame is better adapted to resist the strains of the strings and to impart thereby to the treblestrings an increased singing quality of tone.

The object of this invention is to furnish for the upper treble-section of the string frame an exterior point of support, so that the lifting of the frame under the tension of the treble-strings is prevented; and the invention consists of a hollow coniczl or bellshaped bracket that is attached by its annular base and a tapering tongue-shaped extension to the rim and extended at right angles to the rim inwardly below the treble-section of the string-frame. The inner end of the bracket is connected by a brace-bolt with the treble portion of the metallic frame.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a plan of a grand piano, showing my improved treble-support in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section of the same on line or m, Fig. 1, drawn on a larger scale; and Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively end views of the bell-shaped bracket, showing,respectively, the base end and the apex end of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts.

In the drawings, A represents the metallic string-frame of a grand or other piano-forte, and B the sounding-board, which are both supported on the inner rim, 0, of the case of the piano.

Below the treble portion of the metallic string-frame A and the sounding-board B is arranged a hollow cone or bell-shaped bracket, D, which extends inwardly at right angles to the rim and rests by a circumferential base-rim, d, on the inner surface of the rim 0, as shown in Fig. 2. The lower part of-the (No model.)

base-rim d of the bell-shaped support D is extended outwardly below the base of the inner and outer rims, O and O, of the case in the form of a tapering extension or tongue, 03, which is attached by bolts d" d to the inner and outer rims, O O, as shown in Fig. 2. The annular base-rim d and the tapering tongue (1 support the bell-shaped bracket D rigidly on the rims O C, so that the vibrations of the rims are propagated in longitudinal direction through the hollow bell-shaped bracket D, without being interrupted or impeded thereby. The inner end or apex, e, of the bell-shaped bracket D, to which I have given the name of treble-bell, has a vertical perforation and is connected by a vertical brace-bolt, E, passing through an opening of the sounding-board B, with the string-frame A. The brace-bolt E serves to prevent the lifting of the treble-frame, owing to the strains of the strings upon the same, and retains it thereby in position, so as to impart to the strings of the treble a greatly-improved singing quality of tone.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination, in a piano, with a metallic string-frame, of a hollow bell-shaped bracket attached to the rim of the case below the treble portion of the frame, and of a brace-bolt that connects the string-frame with the apex of the bell-shaped bracket, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the string-frame A, a hollow bell-shaped bracket, D, having an annular base-rim, d, and tapering extension= tongue (1 attached to the inner and outer rims, O O, and a brace-bolt, E, connecting the apex of the bellshaped bracket with the treble portion of the stringframe, substantially as set forth.

3. A bell-shaped bracket for the treble portion of the stringframe, formed of a hollow conical or bell-shaped body having an annular base-rim and an outwardly-extending tapering tongue, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

O. F. THEUDOR STEINXVAY. lVitnesses:

LoUIs C. BAEGENER, SIDNEY MANN. 

